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Clayton C. Anderson:
The International Space Station (ISS) doesn’t feature a traditional "kitchen" like we might expect here on Earth. However, there is a designated space known as the "galley" where astronauts can prepare and consume their meals. The term "galley" was initially used in the space shuttle program, likely derived from its use in the military, and this terminology continued aboard the ISS.
When I flew in 2007, the Russian segment was the only one equipped with a galley. It included a table for three and was furnished with a water system to rehydrate our food packages, with the option of warm or extremely hot water. The Russian food warmer was designed solely for their canned food, about the size of a U.S. cat food can. In contrast, the U.S. developed a second food warmer (shaped like a briefcase) to heat the more "flexibly packaged" food items (like packets) sent from America.
As the ISS continued its mission, a second galley was added in the U.S. segment, located in Node 1 (Unity). This area also includes a table for astronauts to dine. It was introduced due to the growing crew size (currently 6) to provide more dining options. During my brief 12-day stay on the ISS in 2010 as part of the Discovery crew, I noticed that mealtimes were much more separated than during my five-month stay. The Russian crew ate in the Russian segment, shuttle astronauts dined in the shuttle, and U.S. astronauts ate in Node 1, often at different times. Although we had a combined meal in Node 1 during STS-131 with the Expedition 23 crew, the presence of multiple galleys made the situation a bit fragmented. My long-duration stay was different, as Fyodor Yurchikhin, Oleg Kotov, and I shared every single meal. The camaraderie we shared around our zero-gravity "dinner table" is something I will never forget. We laughed, argued, celebrated, and mourned together... Truly an unforgettable experience!
This post originally appeared on Quora. Click here to view.
Clayton "Astro Clay" Anderson is an astronaut, motivational speaker, author, and STEAM education advocate.
His award-winning book The Ordinary Spaceman, Astronaut Edition Fisher Space Pen, and new children's books A is for Astronaut; Blasting Through the Alphabet and It's a Question of Space: An Ordinary Astronaut's Answers to Sometimes Extraordinary Questions are available at www.AstroClay.com. For speaking events www.AstronautClayAnderson.com. Follow @Astro_Clay #WeBelieveInAstronauts
